On April 15, 2024, the Town of Oro Valley turns 50 years old! Join us as we commemorate a half-century of history, growth, and community in Oro Valley! Our 50th Anniversary landing page has all the information you need about this year of community celebration.
Lauren Rhude, one of Oro Valley’s original five councilmembers, spoke with Town staff to discuss the early days of our community. Rhude noted that though there were real battles and challenges early on, he believed that Oro Valley could be a positive community that provided a high quality of life for its residents. During his time as a councilmember, Rhude worked to establish the founding principles of our community. He also helped establish the Oro Valley Police Department, as well as important zoning codes for schools and hospitals.
Shortly after the filming of this interview, Lauren Rhude, age 94, passed away peacefully. We thank him for his contributions to our community.
To view the historical documents included in the video above, click the link below.